Best Behaviour in Surrey Book’em, Danno What charge, McGarrett? Bidding Box Abuse You would never be guilty of this, would you? Touching a pass card, humming and hawing, moving your hand back and forth, to take out another bid? Slamming down the bid after partner has got it wrong, again? Hmm Happens all the time, doesn’t it. Luckily Surrey is a very friendly County, no one complains. However, it matters that your reputation is that of an ethical player. Ignorance of how we should behave at the table, as opposed to how things are, is no excuse. So, here are a few other aspects of bridge dos and don’ts that you could consider, especially if you want to venture out into the Bridge world outside of your club and County (yes, there is one, apparently) Pausing with a singleton, or before declarer has to take a finesse one way or the other, we all know people who do it. Possibly without knowing they are doing it? (2) Convention card (The standard EBU one is good) If everyone plays Benji acol, then why have a completed convention card, or any convention card whatsoever? Everyone “knows” that in addition to Benji we play reverse capiletti, (Health and Safety warning – this convention does not exist) and that we are trying out reverse Benji for a change. So most of the time, opponents won’t bother asking. (3) Pausing. The pause and pass, pause and bid, the slow double and pass. If your partner takes a long time to bid, or pass, you should not take a decision which you would not have done had they passed or bid “in tempo”. Everyone is entitled to think about a decision, no problem, you only give your partner a problem in being ethical. You can’t take advantage of their long time to come to a decision. Sorry, that’s the way it is. If you have an easy clear cut bid or decision, by all means make it and take it. However, it’s the marginal decisions that become so much easier after partner has paused. After all when you don’t have a problem you don’t pause. No one does this in Surrey, of course. (4) Pet Conventions If you do have a pet convention, then if opponents ask, how many times do you just give them the barest explanation, heaven forefend a complete answer. Some people never give a full and complete explanation, with a precise meaning, as opposed to just saying “Reverse Ghestem” :- the better the player, the more complete an explanation you get. Couldn’t happen here in Surrey, we are a very friendly County. (5) Asking out of turn, or when interested in the bidding Try this one – bidding sequence 1Club* 1heart * announced as could be short as 2, ( they are playing 5 card majors) 1 spade 3 no trumps Before partner leads, you ask declarer, the club bid can be as short as 2??? Partner, holding 432 of clubs, knows what to lead If you ask about a bid, then you have to be sure that you want to know, rather than are “interested” in the bidding. It’s amazing how partner knows what to lead when you are “interested” in the bidding. Surrey is a very friendly County, no one complains. .